Shloka 46

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

स मैथिलीं धर्मपरामवस्थितां प्रपेपमानां परिभर्त्स्य रावणः।विहाय सीतां मदनेन मोहितः स्वमेव वेश्म प्रविवेश भास्वरम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa maithilīṃ dharmaparām avasthitāṃ prapepamānāṃ paribhartsya rāvaṇaḥ |

vihāya sītāṃ madanena mohitaḥ svam eva veśma praviveśa bhāsvaram ||

Translation

Rāvaṇa, nachdem er Maithilī geschmäht hatte—zitternd, doch fest im Dharma gegründet—ließ Sītā zurück; von Begierde betört, trat er in sein eigenes strahlendes Gemach ein.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• maithilīm: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• dharma-parām: devoted to dharma
• dharma-parām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of maithilīm
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): धर्मे परा = devoted to righteousness

• avasthitām: steadfast
• avasthitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of maithilīm
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'स्थित/स्थिर' (steadfast)

• prapepamānām: trembling
• prapepamānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of maithilīm
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√vep (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'कम्पमाना' (trembling)

• paribhartsya: having abused
• paribhartsya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari√bharts (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), अर्थ: 'परिभर्त्स्य' = having abused/rebuked

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vihāya: leaving
• vihāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√hā (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थ: 'विहाय' = having left

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म) of vihāya
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• madanena: by passion (Cupid)
• madanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• mohitaḥ: overpowered
• mohitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rāvaṇaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muḥ (√muh) (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'मोहित' (deluded/overpowered)

• svam: his own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of veśma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्व-शब्द (reflexive possessive)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थ: एव = indeed/just

• veśma: dwelling
• veśma: Karma (कर्म) of praviveśa
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद-रूप (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; अर्थ: entered

• bhāsvaram: bright, glittering
• bhāsvaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of veśma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāsvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Context

Having derided Mythili trembling in fear yet steadfast in treading the righteous path, Ravana, overpowered with passion left her and entered his glittering mansion.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē dvāviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends twentysecond sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Madana (personified passion, implied)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma can remain steadfast even under fear: Sītā’s righteousness is unwavering despite threats, while Rāvaṇa’s passion-driven conduct shows how desire can eclipse moral judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

After insulting Sītā in Aśoka-vana, Rāvaṇa withdraws and returns to his palace, still overcome by lust.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dharma-niṣṭhā (steadfast commitment to righteousness and truth) is emphasized—trembling outwardly yet firm inwardly.